Use vegan cheese to make these a fantastic plant-based finger food! Great for entertaining, for on-the-go snacks and adding to lunch boxes! Just 4 ingredients, easy-peasy assembly, 5 minutes in the air-fryer and you’re good to go!
Puff Pastry Pineapple and Cheese Canapes
Sweet and tart pineapple cubes, salty cheddar cheese and the tiniest dollop of chilli sauce is encased in a beautifully flaky puff pastry. Only four ingredients but when put together, something truly magical happens. Cheese and Pineapple is a classic retro combination and I’m sure you have at some point come across cheese and pineapple hedgehogs, cheese and pineapple on a cocktail stick or cheese and pineapple toasties. I first ate cheese and pineapple toasties at my old school friend Hayley’s house. We used to go swimming after school together and we spent a sleepover giggling, making cheese and pineapple toasties and watching Grease the movie from her bunk bed. Ah the easy life of 10 year olds. Cheese and pineapple is also popular on pizza although today is not the day we go into a debate about pineapple on pizza … we will leave that for some other time. What I am trying to say is that cheese and pineapple is ultimately British and reminiscent of childhood parties. This recipe is perfect for entertaining whether it is a BBQ, garden party or sit down meal. To make these “chilli cheese”, I have used a little homemade Schezwan sauce but you can easily replace this with so many other options.
The Origins of Pineapple Cheese
On a farm in West Goshen in the 19th century, a man named Lewis Norton became inspired by a sample of cheese that his uncle had brought back from Holland. This cheese was thought to be a form of cheddar with added cream. The curd was pressed and hung in a small net which caused grooves to form over the cheese resembling pineapples. Norton then began collecting milk to produce cheese shaped like pineapples using wooden-pineapple shaped moulds. The patented recipe became one of the most popular gifts at the time. So somewhere along the way, this American tradition evolved and became a staple for British parties – cheese and pineapple chunks on sticks. I’d like to know how but I don’t have the answer.
Why use the air fryer to bake these pineapple and cheese puff pastry parcels?
I am obsessed with using my air fryer for almost all of my puff pastry recipes. The air fryer allows the puff to cook equally from all sides and importantly, from the bottom as well. I feel as if I have greater control of the temperature with the air fryer too. The air fryer uses convection technology and hot air allowing the bakes to become crispy on the outside.
What other Vegetarian Air Fryer Puff Pastry recipes can I make?
Air Fryer Punjabi Samosa Puffs Tandoori Paneer Tarte au Soleil Rose and Pistachio Puff Pastry Cream Horns/Cones Eggless Mille Feuille with White Chocolate Saffron Yogurt Cream Air fryer Grilled Pineapple Vegan Curry Puffs
Why you should make this recipe
These chilli cheese and pineapple parcels couldn’t be simpler to prepare but you will get the impression you have bought them from a high-end bakery or ordered a platter from an upscale Food-to-order store.
these are made from just 4 ingredients that are easily available in your local grocery store – all you need is cheese, pineapple and puff pastry. If you want to make them “chilli” cheese, add a spoon of chilli sauce
ingredients are affordable and so this is a great dish for cooking on a budget
it is one of the easiest puff pastry recipes you will ever make, kids will enjoy making these with you too!
they are perfect for brunch and breakfast too
a great make-ahead recipe
it is free from nuts
can be made gluten-free using a gluten-free puff pastry.
a crowd-pleaser appetizer or snack
easy to transport as all the ingredients are dry
you can bring these as a gift for your friends or family or for a picnic
Ingredients for Chilli Cheese and Pineapple Puff Pastry
Puff Pastry – for these puffs you will need puff pastry. I like to use ready-made puff pastry for convenience but you can absolutely make your own at home. I prefer ready-rolled sheets to blocks as it saves me from having to roll out the pastry. Here, I have used a single roll of puff pastry 320g that when laid out flat is approximately 35cm by 23cm. The separate layers that are formed when baked or air fried give the puff pastry its unique flaky and airy finish. Pineapple – you can use either fresh pineapple or tinned pineapple. Make sure if using tinned that the pineapple is well drained otherwise it will make the pastry soggy. Cheese – I cut mature cheddar into small cubes but you can also grate the cheese for the same effect as the cheese will melt. Schezwan Sauce – this is what gives the “chilli” to the cheese. Schezwan sauce is a spicy condiment similar to a chilli sauce. It has uses in both Sichuan or Indo-Chinese cooking as it is made with sichuan peppers, red chillies and soy sauce. Add a small spoon of this sauce to the top of the pineapple and cheese or spread it onto the pastry before topping with the cheese and pineapple. I like to keep a bottle of fresh schezwan sauce in the fridge ready to add a zing to my recipes. If making or sourcing your own schezwan sauce is too much effort here are some perfectly reasonable alternatives. Alternatives:
use a small spoon of chilli relish
a sprinkle of chilli flakes per puff
some crushed fresh green or red chilli
add chopped jalapeno either fresh or jarred
a dash of chilli sauce
add a dash of tabasco sauce
add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika (either smoked or sweet)
sprinkle over sliced bullet chilli
For the glaze – as an alternative to egg, milk or water and honey are suitable egg free glazes.
Vegan and Gluten-free Air Fryer Puff Pastry Cheese and Pineapple Parcels
You can easily make this recipe vegan by substituting the normal cheese for vegan cheese alternatives. The ready-roll puff pastry I have used is already vegan as it is made with vegetable oils but it is worth checking the packaging. It is possible to buy gluten-free puff pastry from most supermarkets. You also need to be aware of whether the chilli sauce you use is gluten-free.
Which cheese goes best for pineapple puffs
The beauty of this recipe is that you can pretty much use whichever cheese you fancy. Pineapple goes great with cheese as the creaminess of the cheese cuts through the tart acidic sweetness of the pineapple. The top 5 cheeses that have been listed to go well with pineapple are:
Manchego
Swiss Gruyere
Mature Cheddar
Parmigiano Reggiano
Halloumi
Although, I would say use whichever cheese you have to hand – it’s going to taste great! Also, if you are vegetarian, make sure to check that the cheese is suitable for vegetarians as many cheeses are made in rennet which is animal based.
How to cut a fresh pineapple in less than 5 minutes
If you have bought a fresh pineapple, here is how you can cut it effectively, safely and without minimising waste. You will need a sharp knife and a sturdy chopping board. I like to use a pair of cut resistant or cut proof gloves when I am dealing with big sharp knifes and large food. You may need a towel as some juice may run. Alternatively, use a chopping board with a rim to catch the juice.
Checking your pineapple is fresh and ready to use
Cut approximately 2-3 cm off the top and bottom end of the pineapple. Now place the pineapple standing up on the chopping board. We want to slice off the skin. Using the knife, cut away the skin in a downward motion, hugging the curvature of the flesh as you go. Repeat this all the way around. If the flesh has a small amount of brown spots left (dark eyes of the pineapple), this is ok as they are edible but can be sharp. To remove the dark eyes, use a smaller knife and cut away the spots if you prefer. For pineapple cubes, cut the pineapple in quarters lengthways (cut it in half and half those halves) The inner core of the pineapple (it is slightly lighter in colour) can be less sweet but I like to use the whole pineapple and not waste it. Chop the quarters into equal cubes.
How to prepare the puff pastry before air frying
This depends on whether your puff pastry is chilled or frozen. If you have bought ready-roll puff pastry you will not need to roll it out further. Remember that if you roll the pastry you may loose the layers and the pastry will not rise as much. In case you want to thin it out then lightly stretch the pastry with your hands. Chilled – For best results, take the pastry out of the fridge 10 minutes before handling Frozen – you will need to allow the pastry to thaw in its wrapper prior to using. Thaw for approximately 2 hours at room temperature or overnight if placed in the fridge. You will then need to take the pastry out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before using.
How to make Pineapple and Chilli Cheese puffs in the air fryer
Follow these easy steps for perfectly flaky cheese puffs. Prepare the filling by cutting pineapple into small cubes. Now you want to prepare the pastry. Have it out of the fridge around 10-15 minutes before rolling it out flat. Next, you want to cut the pastry into equal squares – I like to use a ruler for this. Here, I have cut the squares into 3×3 inches but you can make yours bigger if you prefer. 3×3 makes small bite-sized puffs. I have used a pizza wheel but you can also use a sharp knife. The next job is adding the filling. It is tempting to overstuff but please don’t as you’ll regret it later. Keep some space around the edges to allow the pastry to be folded. Make sure your pineapple is fairly dry or else it will make the pastry soggy. Now you want to make your parcels. Bring each corner of the square together to meet in the middle. Pinch the pastry together so that it sticks. Brush some milk over the parcels as an egg-free glaze (not shown as a separate step here) Place them gently in the air-fryer basket. You can use foil or parchment paper for the air fryer. You can also poke some holes into the foil or parchment to prevent it from flying around in the air fryer during cooking. Keep a gap between the parcels to allow space to rise. Air fry at 180 C for 5-7 minutes. You may need to adjust timings based on how your first batch turns out. Remember to remove your basket from the air fryer once the pastry is cooked or else it will continue to brown. Allow the pastry to cool slightly before taking off the parchment as some of the pastry make stick at the bottom.
Top Tips for working with puff pastry in the air fryer
How to preheat the air fryer?
Pre-heat the Air fryer by selecting the Pre-heat mode, select the desired temperature and time and it will usually pre-heat for around 5 minutes. You can then add your food and select the air-fry time. If you own an Instant Pot Pro Crisp, the pre-heat function is inbuilt to the air-fryer setting. Simply select the temperature and time and the Pro Crisp will first start pre-heating and then prompt you to add your food.
Air Fryer Puff Pastry Cheese Turnovers
If you do not want the faff of making these into parcels, you can simply make puff turnovers. Cut the pastry into squares – you may want to make the squares larger than 3x3inch for this. Spoon the filling onto one side of the pastry, lightly wet the edges with some water and then fold over one corner to make a triangle turnover or parcel. Press down the sides to seal. You can either crimp or press down with your finger or a fork.
How to make Pineapple Cheese Puffs in the oven
Pre-heat the oven to 200C. Follow the same steps as above. Place the assembled puffs onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Keep a gap of 3cm minimum between each puff as they will rise. Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. You may have to turn the baking tray half way through cooking to allow all puffs to bake evenly. Once the puffs are golden-brown, remove from the oven otherwise they will continue to cook in the residual heat.
How to serve chilli cheese pineapple puffs
These cute bite-sized puffs are delicious served warm but also taste fabulous cold/room temperature. They’ll look impressive loaded onto a large platter ready to be devoured during dinner parties or barbeques. A cooling soft drink like this cardamom mojito is perfect to get the party started. If you’d like to serve them with a sauce on the side, then this green coriander and mint chutney is great. Be careful not to serve them piping hot to children especially as the melted cheese will be hot, hot, hot!
How to make Cheese and Pineapple Toasties
If you would rather make toasties instead of puffs, you absolutely can using this same filling. To make toasties or pineapple grilled cheese sandwiches, butter two slices of bread and add filling on top the non-buttered side (we want the buttered side to be grilled and crispy). Leave some space at the edges. You may want to spread the schezwan chutney on the inside for this as a dollop will not spread throughout the toastie. Place the other slice on top (again buttered side to remain on the outside) and toast in a sandwich toaster or grill.
How to make Cheese and Pineapple On Sticks Hedgehog
If you feel like ditching the pastry and going full on UK 1970s, 80s and 90s then a cheese and pineapple hedgehog is the way to go. Add Robinsons fruit squash, party rings, and S Club 7 and you will be transported back to the 90s! In short, the hedgehog is a potato covered in tin foil with cocktail sticks of skewered cheese and pineapple cubes sticking out of it. You see how it resembles a hedgehog? So, cover a potato with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Make little cocktail sticks of cheese and pineapple chunks (1 cube of pineapple and 1 cube of cheese will suffice). Then poke these sticks into the potato all over until it looks like a hedgehog with spines sticking out. You can make a face of eyes and a mouth with some glace cherries if you like. Just make sure you supervise little kids as they can choke on the cubes!
Other Pineapple recipes to try:
ALMOND, COCONUT AND PINEAPPLE HALWAINSTANT POT VEGAN COCONUT, PINEAPPLE THAI FRIED RICE + STOVE TOP METHODPINEAPPLE CHUTNEY IN MICROWAVEMango and Pineapple Salsa with a secret ingredientPineapple Juice Recipe
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations! Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can’t wait to see you all there!
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